William Polster convinces deputies he has right to carry on county grounds

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Updated: 7:13 PM CDT Aug 16, 2017

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WEBVTT >> IT WAS MY GIRLFRIEND'SBIRTHDAY AND SHE LIKES ELEPHANTS-- THAT IS WHY I WAS THERE.COLLEEN: WILLIAM POLSTER RODEHIS HARLEY TO THE ZOO LASTWEEKEND WEARING HIS SIGNATUREGEAR, HIS SECOND AMENDMENTPATCHES, AND HIS .45-CALIBERGLOCK.>> WALKED INTO THE FARM EXHIBITAREATHE ONE OFFICER PULLS UP, STOPSME AND SAYS WE CAN'T HAVE THEFIREARM IN THE PAR>> I HAVE A GUY WITH A GUN AND AKNIFE AT THE ZOO.COLLEEN: POLSTER RECORDED THEINTERACTION WITH MILWAUKEECOUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES.>> LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES CANPROHIBIT IN BUILDINGS, BUT NOTON GROUNDS.COLLEEN: POLSTER'S VIDEO RUNSMORE THAN AN HOUR AS DEPUTIESCHECKED ON THE LAW.ULTIMATELY, THEY DETERMINEDPOLSTER WAS RIGHT.>> WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU GOBACK IN THE ZOO.COLLEEN: THE MILWAUKEE COUNTYZOO TELLS 12 NEWS IT DOES NOTALLOW THE OPEN OR CONCEALEDCARRY OF ANY WEAPONS IN ANY ZOOBUILDING OR DURING ANY POSTEDSPECIAL EVENT, BUT STATE LAWEXEMPTS PUBLIC GROUNDS.>> YOU CAN CARRY ON THE GROUNDS.YOU JUST CAN'T CARRY IN THEBUILDINGS. COLLEEN: YOU THINK THERE SHOULDBE GUNS AT THE ZOO?>> ABSOLUTELY.SHOOTINGS HAPPEN AT THE ZOO,SHOOTINGS HAPPEN AT SCHOOL, ATTHEATERSPEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEFENDTHEMSELVES. COLLEEN: ZOO-GOERS HAVE THEIROWN OPINIONS.>> I DON'T SEE WHY HE WOULD NEEDTO BRING A GUN TO THE ZO>> IT'S A FAMILY EVENT, WHYWOULD YOU BRING A GUN?IT'S UNNECESSARY.>> I'D RATHER HAVE OPEN CARRY OCONCEAL AND CARRY WITH A BUNCHOF THEM IN THERE THAN NOT KNOW.COLLEEN: POLSTER BELIEVES THEMORE PEOPLE ARE SEEN CARRYINGTHEIR WEAPONS, THE MOREACCEPTABLE IT WILL BECOME.IN MILWAUKEE, COLLEEN HENRY,

Gun-rights activist stopped at Milwaukee County Zoo

William Polster convinces deputies he has right to carry on county grounds

A gun-rights activist took his gun last weekend to the Milwaukee County Zoo, where he was stopped by sheriff's deputies.

William Polster rode his Harley to the zoo, wearing his signature gear -- his Second Amendment patches and his .45 caliber Glock.

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"It was my girlfriend's birthday, and she likes elephants. That's why I was there," Polster said. "We walked into the farm exhibit area, the one officer pulls up, stops me and says we can't have the firearm in the park," he said.

Polster recorded the interaction with Milwaukee County sheriff's deputies. His video runs more than an hour as deputies checked on the law. Ultimately, they determined Polster was right.

The Milwaukee County Zoo told WISN 12 News it does not allow the open or concealed carry of any weapons in any Zoo building or during any posted special event. But state law exempts public grounds.

"You can carry on the grounds. You just can't carry in the buildings," Polster said.

"Do you think there should be guns at the zoo?" WISN 12 News' Colleen Henry asked Polster.

"Absolutely," he said. "Shootings happen at the zoo. Shootings happen at school, at theaters. People have the right to defend themselves."

Zoo patrons have their own opinions

"I don't see why he would need to bring a gun to the zoo," Niko Dean said.

"It's a family event. Why would you bring a gun? It's unnecessary," said his mother, Qunika Dean.

"I'd rather have open carry or concealed carry with a bunch of them in there than not know," Kara Pringle said.

Polster believes that the more people are seen carrying weapons, the more acceptable it will become.